Sun King

What're you looking for?

 

Shitty beer at an inflated price is my guess.

 

What? You don't like 2 packs of semi-decent BA whatever for $22 a 2 pack?

 

I love that they're about to release the next Kings Reserve and still have a bunch of their last one clogging shelf space at the brewery because of the ridiculous price tag. Finally, people are speaking with their wallets.

 

What was the last one? I can't even remember.

 

Afternoon Delight: Barrel Aged doppelbock. I mean, it wan't bad by any means but the price was horrendous. The only thing I really like about Sun King is that they brew lagers in a state where nobody else really does. And they're pretty good at it. But they've got this city by the balls with people not really questioning their prices.

 

And my guess is the only reason the doppelbock hasn't sold is because it's a lager and people still have that lager = Bud Light mentality. If it were a barrel aged imperial stout or soured IPA people would've snatch them up at $30 a 2 pack.

 

I have a feeling not as many people will have an issue paying for the next release. Generally the craft beer community will pay for a cherry sour. That, and apparently this one is supposed to be pretty good. I still hate the price tag, but I'm sending my sister in law to grab me a 2 pack because it intrigues me, and I'm a sucker for Sun King beers (I still haven't completely learned my lesson after being burned a few times).

 

Taking a play out of the FFF playbook if you ask me.

 

I hear those who say they think that Sun King is overpriced. Sometimes they are. The $22 for a two-pack is pretty expensive, and it has kept me from pulling the trigger on more than one of their King's Releases.

But consider the other options around here - $25 for a single bottle that Upland runs its sours at. The two pack is not any more expensive than the other barrel aged beers I see. Not all of them are stellar, but that's true regardless. And the advantage is that I can space my consumption over two sessions and not have to worry about loss of carbonation, etc. I like the 2-packs, I just wish they were a few dollars less.

Personally, I think Sun King's best deal is their $6 growler Fridays, when you can pick up their flagships at a very reasonable price. It isn't that they are the best beers out there, but it is hard to get 64 oz. of anything at $6, and Osiris is decent, IMO. On the other hand, I pass on it in cans at $11 a 4-pack, for certain.

 

I won't argue about the $6 growlers (although I honestly thought they were still $5). Helluva deal any way you cut it. But seeing them push a 4 pack of $12 Cream Ale kills me. It's working though. Consumers have bought in and I'm definitely in the minority. I haven't had a King's Reserves that's lived up to the pricetag. It was one thing when they were $15 but I can't for the life of me figure out what made it jump 5-7 bucks. I'm hoping they'll come back down to earth a little bit. But I do love that they can brew a good Maibock while everyone else in the state focuses on their subpar ipa's.

And Upland...$25 is robbery for their sours. I've loved some of their recent bigger beers but asking $25 for a bottle of the acetone that sits in their barrels is criminal.

 

You and I aren't the only ones who turn their nose up at that price. I'll pick up a 4-pack of their one-off cans sometimes to give them a try, but I never buy the flagships at the price. I will drink them on tap out and about, though, and when I'm at an event, they are often the only craft in sight, so I'll drink them then too. But I'll grab Lagunitas, Stone, or any of a 100 other options on the local shelf before their 4-packs.

I've had a few that were deeply flawed, but I'm happy I bought most of the ones I've had. The problem I have with Upland is that until recently, the only way I could even try their sours is to plunk down $25 + tax. That they've started offering them intermittently at their tasting rooms and brew pubs is a nice step forward, but Sun King has been giving a full glass for $5 for a while now. And that allows you to drop by, try it, and if you like it, then decide whether to pay the full price.

 

I didn't realize Sun King did pours of their Kings Reserve beers. I may start giving that shot. I went to Upland a month or so ago and did their 1 oz pours and ended up buying a bottle of their VinoSynth White. I think that's the best route to go with them because they're struggling to sell their bottles unless it's Persimmon or something new like Paw Paw.

 

I'm looking for some Grape Fruit Jungle by these guys...anyone interested in trading me some? I've got Toppling Goliath distro and some other random stuff from a recent trip.

I realize it isn't going to be released till the end of the month.

 

I could definitely help you with that. Let me know what all you want (ie their other every day stuff, Kings Reserve, or other locals). Message me and we'll figure it out.

 

It's a helluva deal compared to what most breweries charge for a growler, and also compared to what they sell those beers for at retail. A $6 growler works out to about $1.13 for 12 ounces. However, it's the same price as you would pay for 12 ounces of a Sierra Nevada or New Belgium beer if you buy them in 12-packs ($13.99 on sale). I think Osiris is a good beer, but I can get Hop Hunter, Torpedo, Ranger, or Rampant for the same price per ounce and not have to drive downtown or drink it all within 2-3 days.

 

Afternoon Delight was the largest yield we've ever had on a barrel aged beer. We'd prefer that folks can find a King's Reserve beer in the cooler any time they visit the brewery.

 

I guess I am confused by some of the hate...I can understand if you think the price is high but most of the beers they have released were medal winners at GABF. Didn't afternoon Delight win gold a year ago? Also I think two recent releases won medals this year as well right (lonesome dove and 666)? Again I understand the price can cause some people to be upset but I just don't understand where the calling these beers mediocre is coming from. Am I missing something?

 

Well, some of the Pappy Van Muckle cans were infected. I had a two pack of Whip Fight, which was really solid fresh. I then opened one in February and it was an infected mess. BA 666 was solid, but I believe that was $25 for a two pack, and enough people complained that Sun King gave a $10 voucher for a future visit (maybe it was for another Reserve beer, but I'm failry sure it happened in this instance). I understand the expenses that go into a canning line and the cost that goes into making some of the reserve series beers. However, it seems for awhile these were $15 or so a 2 pack, and then all of a sudden jumped up $7-$10. With the quality issues I have seen from getting these Reserve beers over the past year and a half, I just don't see the justification in the jump. I'm not local, so maybe my opinion doesn't mean that much, this is just what I have experienced from receiving their beers from a family member who is local.